A water-stable terbium metal–organic framework as a highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for nitrite†
Abstract
A novel water-stable Tb-based metal–organic framework (Tb-MOF), namely {[Tb(CA)(OA)0.5(H2O)2]·H2O}n (H2CA = chelidonic acid; H2OA = oxalic acid), was synthesized via a solvothermal method. Tb-MOF was studied for its highly sensitive detection towards nitrite, which is a hazardous chemical in water and food. As a luminescent sensor, Tb-MOF displays a linear detection range between 0 and 15.6 μM, with a limit of detection of 28.25 nM. Dynamic quenching process was observed in this system and was studied in detail. A mechanism study revealed that the fluorescence response of Tb-MOF towards nitrite was due to the energy transfer from the sensitized Tb3+ ion to the nitrite.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Rare Earth Chemistry – In memory of Professor Xu Guangxian at his centenary